Daily Republican., 1887-05-02
EvERYBODY's FRIEND.

He was that from his cradle In neg
auve, passive sort Of way. He neve
cried and asserted his rights, but Ia,
Sill and sucked his thumb and bllnket
ana stared at the great world, ns IL try
Ing TO solve the riddle OF being In It.
And when he became . school boy h,
was the one to stay OF home wher
mother wss sick to do the chores and
run errands. And oil he got was black
marks against bis name for being tardy
and reprimand from his father for moi
learning more.
1t was 10 In everything. He never
had slice OF bread, particularly large
and wide. but what It fell upon the
moor, and always on the buttertd side,
and there was never any jam for bis
slice, but he didn't mind. He would
rather 20 without than have somebody
else miss 1t.
And when he came to mans estate
and learned to love dear gazslle she
turned cold shoulder on him to'glad"
his brother with her soft, dark eye. And
he gave her up without o murmur only
too thankful that he might suffer and
be strong. In her service.
And when in middle life he was q
comfortable bachelor with o snug COM
petence, the brother failed aud she
would have starved, but that he came
forward and offered his savings and
helped them up again. And they gave
bin tho attic bedroom and comfortless
ped to show thei- gratitude.
It was then he was first called
"every body's friend" but with the title
was conveyed the idea that he was a
little touched In the uppsr story. Why
should he always persist In making a
vicarious sacrifice of him self IL he were
not little "off," rs we say nowac aye;
daft" as the Scotch phrase II.
The years rolled on and "evsry bod y a
friend" prospered, 10 spite of helping
others to their feet continually, and
again he amassed q snug little fortune,
when young man in whom he had
perfect confidence" whom he trusted
as "a BROTHER" forgetting no. bro.ht rs
were to be trusted, asked him to sis n
his bond for an important official post
ton. He did go cheerfu!ly, and when
tho young man and the official funds
vanished together he paid hts obliga
ton and was again penniless.
But such cheerful beggar! The
brother had gone with his family on a
pleasure tour abroad aud their house
was rented for term OF ) ears. All the
other relatives had mouths enough to
feed; there was no place In the world,
apparently, for every body's friend.
Just then he went and "got run over"
That is the way his relatives worded It,
1t was the beginning Of hard, cold
winter, and he was disabled. Taere
was nothing left, so he went to the pub.
lilo ward Of the hospital.
He was as cheerful and serene. Ms
mach every body's friend as ever.
When he could hobble about he helped
everybody within reach, and took what
he could get for himself or all the
people he had helped. not one came TO
give him an orange or bunch Of grapes.
or better still, q kindly word.
One day he overheard the nurse talk
Ing with the doctor.
I'VE want that bed for very sick
she said with back ward nod
OF her sad; "he must 60 into the con.
valesGent ward"
HE must 60 to the poorhouse," said
the doctor. He IL as well as he ever
will be, and unless HE friends come and
take him out be will be q county charge
the rest OF hts life "
well, we want that bed" reiterated
the nurse, and they moved away.
be lay that night staring at the
shaded ntght-lamps and the white beds,
as he had lain and stared at the world
long ago. II seemed like a long sad
dream TO him-that all his iores
should have come 10 this, and the lights
SWAN in tears-the first and tho last
that ingratitude should ever call forth.
The next morning the rurse hustled to
meet the doctor and tell him the cot
they naeded Was empty. Every bod, y
friend had been accommodating to The
last.